My Three Wishes

Like most adults, the day had come when I felt incapacitated by my to-do list. I had homework, housework, a puppy to manage, and a husband to bond with and I didn't know where to start. I ended up breaking down in the shower, and as I talked to myself, I came up with my three wishes. They weren't general helps, like more patience or more time; I wanted someone to walk Zoe, to make dinner, and to wash the mountain of dishes. Everything else, I felt I could manage. If Zoe wasn't jumping on me, I could study better. If the mountain of dishes wasn't judging me, I could clean the rest of the apartment in peace, etc. If only someone could come and magically grant my wishes. 

My wishes were granted, but it wasn't magic. I messaged my husband, letting him know that I couldn't make dinner, so he could decide if he wanted to get something or make something. He came home and cooked! Wish number one. I found an assignment that involved watching a documentary and watched that as I washed the dishes. Wish number two. The next day, I decided that it was important to take time for Zoe, so I took her on a walk. Wish number three! When I realized that I had granted my own wishes (with help from my husband), it was so empowering. I had managed to grant not only those wishes but finish my other responsibilities as well. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, by Phillip Brooks:
“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle."

In Numbers 14, Moses and the children of Israel finally have the Promised Land within their reach. But then the spies that Moses sent to scout for the fruits of the land come back with bad news--the land is already populated by giant, strong men. The spies and many of the people lose faith in the power of God and despair. "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!" (vs. 2). How incredible that these people, having seen all they have seen of God's power, would give up on Him. The Lord says, "how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?" (vs. 11) Joshua and Caleb try to reassure them and reanimate their faith: "The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land..." (vs. 7-9)

Sometimes life is overwhelming. Our Promised Land might look beautiful, but it requires faith and work to get there. Are we willing to trust in the Lord? Are we willing to look past the challenges and into the beauty that we're fighting for?

There is a second part to the story from Numbers 14. After being told that they wouldn't be able to enter the Promised Land, a group of people decided not to wait. They decided to go in their own strength to take the land. Moses warned them that they were going against the word of God and wouldn't have Him with them. But they went anyway and were killed.  

At the time when I made my three wishes, I was preparing for a book discussion on "The Tao of Pooh," which discusses Taoism and finding peace according to Winnie the Pooh. One of my favorite parts tells a fable of a river that is so wild and fast and full of rocks, that anyone who entered the river died. But one day, a boy saw an old man in the water, bobbing up and down. The boy called for help, but the old man emerged unscathed. When asked how he did it, the old man replied that he had learned long ago to go with the flow of the river, to submit to its superior power. 

We might become impatient as we are working towards our blessings. At those times, we should remember to seek the will of God. He has the power to help us, but we need to trust in His plan and His timing. 

Let Brotherly Love Continue (Heb 13:1)

In the last half of Genesis, we find a couple of stories about brothers: Jacob and Esau and the sons of Israel. 

In Genesis 35, Esau and Jacob are meeting. If I remember correctly, it's the first time they're meeting since Jacob took the birthright, and Jacob is nervous about the meeting. Within my family, there are some brothers who haven't spoken with each other for some time because of past conflicts. When they get together, those conflicts bubble up and create contention. 

But thankfully, this wasn't the case here. They both show love, forgiveness, and generosity. And here is an image of their meeting. Having this attitude in our own lives can help us spread this same joy. 

"The greatest missionary tool we have is that of demonstrating friendliness, brotherly kindness, harmony, love, and peace in our homes and in all our Church meetings. If we follow the example of Jesus Christ and become true peacemakers, that flood of love will cover the earth as with a blanket" ("Blessed are the Peacemakers"; Burton, 1974).

Then we have the sons of Israel. Joseph was the favored son and was blessed with visions of greatness. As a result, "his brethren envied him" (Genesis 37:11). 

And here we have a contrasting example of brotherly love. Standing up to the others, Reuben encourages them not to kill Joseph. '"Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him,"' he said, 'so that (Reuben) might (save Joseph) out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again' (Genesis 37:22). Unfortunately, Reuben leaves Joseph with the others, and Joseph is sold into slavery. 

While this results in the salvation of Egypt and the House of Israel, the progress made in Egypt could have been made in their homeland. 

"We need to be reminded that contention is a striving against one another, especially in controversy or argument. It is to struggle, fight, battle, quarrel, or dispute. Contention never was and never will be an ally of progress" ("No Time for Contention"; Ashton, 1978).

While we should avoid contention, there is another enemy to progress and brotherly love: neglect. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him" (Genesis 40:23). We might decide that in order to avoid contention, we need to just leave the offending party alone. But that doesn't lead to progress either. Joseph was sitting in prison and Egypt was headed for disaster. 

Thankfully, Joseph was remembered, and everyone was saved! And then we have these touching scriptures describing their reunions: "And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there" (Genesis 43:30). "And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him." (Genesis 45:14-15).